Police Now Say Ronni Chasen Was “Victim Of Random Act Of Violence” By Desperate Robber On Bicycle; Tipster To 'America's Most Wanted' Helped Solve Murder

BREAKING NEWS!… UPDATE WITH MORE DETAILS: As Deadline told you last week, that down and out “person of interest” Harold Martin Smith who killed himself at the Harvey Apartments in a seedy part of Los Angeles was likely the shooter of Hollywood film publicist Ronni Chasen as she was driving home from a movie premiere around 12:30 AM on November 16th. A firearms lab made that discovery and delivered the ballistic report just this afternoon, according to Beverly Hills Police department Chief Dave Snowden giving his first press conference about the murder. “The gun used to shoot Ms. Chasen is the same gun used by Harold Martin Smith to commit suicide,” Snowden said, later describing it as a “match”. “We believe that Mr. Smith acted alone. We don’t believe it was a professional hit. And it’s an open and active investigation.” Snowden added that his BHPD detectives “are going to continue this investigation until we can call you again out here and tell you with definitive proof who exactly the person who shot Ronnie Chasen was. And we do believe that we have a pretty good lead on this guy.”

A detective at the same press conference, BHPD’s Sgt Mike Publicker, echoed that Smith acted alone and he did not know the Hollywood publicist. Publicker said a lot of media reports filled with elaborate backstories were “not accurate” and went on to say, “This was a random act of violence. With Mr. Smith’s background, we believe it was most likely a robbery gone bad… Through the interviews and information we received, that leads us to believe he was at a desperate point in his life and was reaching out and doing desperate measures.”

Police said the TV crime-fighting show America’s Most Wanted “played a crucial part in this investigation”. A tip came into the AMW studio and the show put BHPD in contact with the tipster who wishes to remain anonymous. “And we’re going to respect that, as is America’s Most Wanted,” Publicker said. “There is the possibility that the tipster will be entitled to the reward money.”

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Responding to media questions, Publicker also gave more information about Smith and the crime. “We believe that his mode of transportation was by bicycle,” said the sergeant, who indicated that the police theory at present is that Smith was riding a bicycle — his only means of transportation, according to his neighbors — when he shot and killed Chasen in a robbery gone horribly wrong. The police said they don’t think Smith ever even came into the car or touched Chasen’s purse after she crashed into the lightpole, so he came away with no money. Publicker did reveal a bicycle was found at Smith’s suicide scene and it was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department and will be turned over to BHPD. “Preliminarily, we believe it was a random act and we believe that Ms. Chasen was going to be the victim of a robbery,” Publicker added. He agreed with one reporter’s scenario that Smith came up alongside Chasen on a bicycle and shot her at the corner of Sunset and Whittier in Beverly Hills around midnight. “It’s still an ongoing investigation, but we believe he was intending to rob her,” Publicker noted.

The police probe is about “60%-70% done” as of today, said Publicker but there is a lot of information that still needs to be obtained. “We want to eliminate every possibility that other people were involved.” But Publicker also said about Smith that “the detectives were able to do numerous interviews, and from the information obtained in the interviews, it appears that he did act alone.” the sergeant also noted that “there was a question posted earlier whether Mr. Smith knew Ms. Chase. It does not appear at this time that there’s any connection between the two. … And we do not believe he was a paid hit man, no.” However, what is surprising is that Smith had the presence of mind to cover up his involvement in the crime because, Publicker noted, “there were no shell casings found at the scene of the crime.”

144 Comments

I don’t believe the “lone gunman” theory. There was a second shooter on the grassy knoll.

Sunset Blvd • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

The Police do not know anything. This is just to create buzz since it is an embarassment that they can’t figure it out.

Captain Awesome • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

I call BULLSHIT.

Talk about a fucking cover-up.

columbo • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

charade. smoke. mirrors. and the oscar goes to…

Alma • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

I agree. I don’t believe this. NOW this dead guy is the shooter? And wasn’t he disqualified as a suspect only a couple of days after he killed himself? And there have been NO other suspects? Hmmm…too conveniently solved, IMHO!

J.C. • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

Jesus Christ – spellcheck!!!!

Really? I thought there were no casings on the crime scene. Would a man really shoot someone five times in a botched robbery attempt and remove the shells?

Doesn’t make sense.

Joe Friday • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

Ballistics match bullets, not casings. None the less, it makes no sense.

Bruce • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

5 or 6 shot revolvers do not eject shell casings.

Stunned • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

I’ve covered many press conferences by law enforcement and that had to be the most amateurish ever. It makes no sense; random robbery on a bike? Kills himself? Caught by bragging? If it’s the same gun, Harold found it or was given the gun. Just another conference that asks more questions than provides answers — and nice touch with the Mayor seeking face-time.

-j • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

Bullshit. Lazy fucking cops. This guy was known as a wacko and a mental patient. You think he could shoot with such precision with hollow points and manage to elude the police for WEEKS?

seriously • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

Seriously we’re supposed to believe that he biked up to a moving car and shot her 5 times to rob her. then didn’t take anything. then picked up the bullets. then told people he did it for money. then shot himself while being served with a search warrant. THis has to be the all time dumbest explanation i’ve ever fucking heard. Just a joke.

JFLA • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

Nope. Not buying it.

CCC • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

The previous reports I read said he (Harold Martin Smith) didn’t have a car and rode a bike everywhere. Something about this still seeems odd to me. I feel this this is not the end of this story.

B. Graham • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

Scream it with me folks, “COVER UP!”

You forgot to mention he did it while riding a bicycle. LOL

Anonymous • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

Don’t buy it. Smith was set up as the patsy. You think that guy would shoot five times, committing a robbery while someone’s driving? He didn’t TAKE THE MONEY!

elaine johnson • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

What an enormous LOAD of dog poop. Some random guy, on a bike at 12:30 at night in Beverly Hills….just “randomly” shoots 5 shots into Ronni Chasin, but steals nothing,,,not car or purse. Oh…and shell casings weren’t found either….oh yeah, and he worked alone.

Gimme a flippin break…what a load of arrogance the bevhills police department has to try and lay this garbage on all of us. Stupid…

we may never know the truth, sadly, because of these pompous keystone kops

F.C. • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

Why not shoot someone in his neighborhood? Why cycle for a few hours to Bev Hills – how? – via Sunset?! LOADS of clubs with fancy cars and dark streets in his own hood to target. Why at midnight? Why not 2-3am when less cars around? Why the passenger side? Why not rob her if that was the motive and her car ended up smashed into a pole? Instead he picks up the shells casings?!!! If this guy did do it as a neighbor claimed he said he did; that neighbor also said he was waiting for a payday for the hit so…who was that coming from? The tooth fairy?!

FFC • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

DUH. Read up, bro. Revolver = No ejected casings.

And this scumbag had robbed in Beverly Hills before. :Preferred victimology:

realitygurl • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

BULLSHIT. Worst press conference ever and no way Smith “acted alone”.

mike • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

I call bullshit.

Dubious • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

And if you believe this story then you may believe the Beatles are reuniting with all original members. REALLY? Guy rides a bike from Downtown to Beverly Hills, murders someone, and then just rides his bike back to downtown. Give me a break, tell us the real story….it won’t hurt the holiday travel to Beverly Hills.

ANON • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

Really, Really, Really! Do the police actually think people are stupid enough to believe this! Ugh, may she rest in peace.

slack-jawed... • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

What did we just witness at this press conference? What was the point of it other than for a couple of local BH yokels to get on TV? Was it an audition for a reality show – The Real Douchebags of Beverly Hills?

REALLY?? An African American man riding a bicycle through Beverly Hills after midnight wouldn’t be nailed by BHPD?

REALLY?? This same guy on a bike clustered his shots perfectly and managed to pick up all the shell casings and get away?

lisa • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

I don’t believe for a second this was random! If it was a robbery gone bad, why would he have bragged about it and risk getting caught, let alone, tell people he was waiting for a $10,000 payment? AND, they say he was on a bicycle?! If he held a gun to her car window, all she had to do was hit the gas and she’s gone. This is fishy and I smell cover up!!

Sheri • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

A robber on a bicycle in Beverly Hills at 12:30?

Ghost • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

Um, can you say cover up! BHPD, the best bought police department in the country. Someone must really not want the truth to get out.

gwbaker • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

Bullshit

Dustintime • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

Not buying it.

Hooey • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

I don’t buy it. The guy’s on a bike and manages 5 shots to her torso through a car window? That does not sounds like a “desperate” act. Does he have a military or sharpshooter background we don’t know about?

peter haley • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

I suggest that we all see “Chinatown” tonight.

Barad Kharami • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

I love the smell of cover-up in the afternoon.

Walter • on Dec 8, 2010 3:11 pm

WOW! This can’t be the whole story? I’m glad we’re getting to the bottom of things but honestly, I’m gonna be a bit disappointed if this is the entire story!